Hitching device



(No Model.)

E. L. PROPST.

HHOHING DEVICE.

N0. 589,855. Patented Sept. 14, 1897.

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UNITED STATES EDNARD PROPST, OF CH HITCHIN SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters P PATENT vEEicE..

atent No. 589,855., dated September 14, 189'?.

Application filed November 17, 1896. Serial No. 612,468. (No model.)

To all whom t muy manor/t- Be it known that I, EDWARD L. PRoPsT, a citizen ot' the United States, residing' at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg and State ot North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching` Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle attachments, and has more particular relation to devices for preventing both the running away of horses and the backing of the same when hitched tovehicles.

The invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part otl this specilication, Figure l represents a perspective view of a buggy-with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged detail perspective view of the castin g containing,` the antifriction-rollers, and Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of theA chains in an extended position.

A in the drawings represents the dashboard of the buggy; B, the reins; C, the front wheels ot' the buggy; D, the shafts; E, the casting containing the antitrictionrollers, and F F the chains. The said casting E comprises an attaching-plate e, provided with an extension e' and formed with screw-apertures e2 e2,- by means of which it can be securely attached to the inside of the dashboard, near the bottom thereof. The said extension e is also provided with a screw-aperture e3, by means of which said extension can be secured to the dashboard. The said attaching plate e is provided with a bracket extension e4, extend in g upwardand outward therefrom and apertnred at its upper end, as at e5. Spaced antifrictionrollers e6 are loosely mounted in said aperture e5 by means of journal-pins e7. Each of the chains F F is provided at its upper end with a snapfhook j, adapted to be slipped through a suitable ri ng or eye secured to the reins B. The said chains F F pass, respectively, down from the lines through the spaces between the antifriction-rollers e, and

from thence to the opposite sides of the bugg Y,

, the outer ends of said chains being each provided with snap-hooksf',adapted to be passed about the telly of the wheel and thus secured thereto.

Each of the chains F F is provided with an auxiliary chain f2, connected thereto and to the snap -hook f. The free ends of said chains f2 are provided, respectively, with an apertured attaching-plate f3, adapted to be secured to the shafts D by screws.

It will be observed from the foregoing` description that should the horse start to run away or pass forward while the chains F F are connected to the lines the wheels C, to which the lower ends ot said chains are attached, will pull upon the latter and thus draw it on the lines until the wheels are locked. Any further forward movement of the horse will now bring the strain upon Vthe bit within his mouth, and the whole weight of the locked and dragging buggy will bc thrown upon the said bit, and he will thus be forced to draw the buggy in its locked condition by his mouth alone. This will, ot course, soon bring 'him to a stop.

Should the horse try to back the buggy when the attachment is applied, the rearward movement of the wheels will tighten the chains f2 until. said wheels become locked, when any further rearward movement will be prevented. It will also be observed from the foregoing description that the strain upon the casting E is equalized, as the tension when the device is in operation is from both sides, said sides -just counterbalancing` each other.

'When the device is not in use, the snaphooks f and f are unhooked and the chains concealed in the front of the bugg f.

It will also be observed that my improved casting containing its plurality of antifriction-rollers is altogether concealed behind and at the bottom of the dashboard and only the protruding ends of the chains are presented to view.

lVith this improved vehicle attachment the buggy can be instantly locked when it is wished to leave the same by simply attaching the hooks j' and f in the proper position.

The arrangement ofthe inclined bracket e4 is such as to divide the vertical and lateral strains upon the chains F F evenly, and thus IOO factured very cheaply and in the desired mar-y ketable form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a buggy attachment, the combination with a casting adapted to be attached to the dashboard, of antifrictionfrollers mounted in said'casting, chains adapted to be connected to the respective reins and passing down and over said rollers for attachment to the Wheels upon the respective sides of the buggy, and

auxiliary chains connected to the first-mentioned chains and passed forward upon each side of the buggy and attached to the shafts, substantially as described.

2. In a buggy attachment, the combination with a casting comprising an attachingplatc and an upwardly and outwardly inclined apertured bracket, of antifriction-rollers journaled in they aperture of said kbracket in an inclined position, chains passing over said rollers and provided with snap-hooks at their respective ends for attachment to the reins and the wheels respectively, and auxiliary chains connected to the respect-ive outer ends of the rst-inentioned cha-ins and each pro` vided with an attaching-plate adapted to be secured to the shafts uponthe opposite sides of the buggy, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speciication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDlVARI) L. PROPST,

Witnesses:

B. P. BOYD., H. C. SEvnns. 

